Theatre Downtown might be for you if you're downtown and you like Theatre!…read more I really had a great time viewing the production of "Bob: A Life in Five Acts" here at this venue. If nobody told you about it, I'm really not sure how you'd know it's here. It's tucked away in the upper level of an antique store. Sounds really random, and it is, but it somewhat adds to what this place is offering! Before the show starts and during intermissions, you'll be able to tour the upstairs of the antique store... which is large btw! Real character, this place has. There's popcorn and candy for purchase before entering the theater. It's pretty much a black box with stadium seating, a short platform stage and everything from sound to lights seemed somewhat rigged but fully functioning of course! You don't have to go Broadway to see a good theater performance and this Birmingham locale is the perfect example of such! This ecclectic theater atmosphere just may suit your fancy for a new evening activity in the city!

Theatre Downtown is great alternative place to experience the theatre here in Birmingham. Located…read moreon the top floor of Fifth Avenue Antiques, this location is certainly unique when it comes to the performing arts. The actual theatre itself is on the smallish side, which I think makes for a more personal experience. Because seating is limited, be sure to get there early for your front row seats! The first night of each show is "hobo night" where you can pay whatever you want to see the show. Theatre can get expensive, so I appreciate this option. I'm not sure if there is an age-limit to the shows here, but I'm going to assume that most aren't kid friendly as there have been pretty adult themes (language, particularly) in the shows that I've seen.

This is a beautiful facility. The comfortable seating is wonderful for enjoying a show, concert,…read moreplay or any performance based event. The room set aside for dining is great for most any type of hosting venue. Great sound system without any echos or distracting noises to interrupt a performance. I attended a disability fashion centered experience titled "Every Body Blooms." Sponsored by NCHPAD, UAB Arts In Medicine. This was such a beautiful fashion show showcasing the confidence of the models and their creativity in fashion. One model remarked that "When you look good, you feel good." I would encourage everyone to follow NCHPAD to learn more about the disabled community and how they adapt to the abled body society. Again, this is a wonderful venue. I'll be back for other shows and performances.

I love the Alys Stephens Center! I was recently here to see Eric Benet in concert and it was…read morephenomenal!!! I really don't think there's a bad seat in the building. This is a great venue!!!! Highly recommend attending a show here if you get the opportunity. Parking was tough since I was running late but that was to be expected. Locating street parking is NEVER fun or easy! I ended up parking in a student lot ... no problems since the event was on a Sunday. My car wasn't towed! Ha! This was a great event and I'm so glad Eric Benet spent his birthday with us here in Birmingham, AL!!!! FUN NIGHT!!!!!!

Magic City Art Connection is a very special event that brings together artists from all around the…read moreSoutheast. Entrance this year was $15. Even if you only utilize this event as a gallery viewing, the cost is well worth it. The creativity of some people is mind-blowing. There were dozens (hundreds? I'm not great at estimating numbers) of booths of all kinds of media, including painting/drawing/visual, jewelry, sculpture, and more. I purchased a coffee mug from an artist whose designs were inspired by the events of 9/11 and technique was derived from Ancient Greece. I also purchased a necklace from an artist whose techniques included some from Korean tradition that melded together gold and silver. Truly beautiful. These items were evidently made with great care and quality materials. I felt that the prices were extremely reasonable. There are several activities within the Art Connection that would be fun for children and are included in the cost of entrance. My friend and I stopped by the Amor booth and made beaded bracelets. There are food vendors in and around the Art Connection, but the lines were quite long! All in all, would recommend, and the weather was perfect this year!

It's been a couple of years since we'd attended MCAC, but we went this year because a friend…read moresuggested Corks & Chefs. It was GREAT. The parking was easy. Check in took a minute, but was well organized. Corks & Chefs was fabulous and turned us on to some new venues (and taught us more about tequila!). The vendors were super high quality and friendly. There were local folks displaying their wares in addition to regional and even national folks. I attend a fair amount of "craft festivals", but this was beyond that in level of quality. Really a fine group of assembled craftspeople. Thanks ONB!

I've attended 3 Brian Culbertson concerts at this venue and a book tour with Tabitha Brown. I never…read morehave a problem finding parking since I park two blocks up and walk back. There's never a bad seat in the house, even in the balcony, which I prefer due to the stadium seating. Staffers are always pleasant and eager to show you to your seats. There's even a cute bar/concession stand on the 2nd level for your thirst and snacking needs.

Everyone and I mean everyone who worked here was sooo friendly. From concession, to ticket hosts…read moreand seat hosts So professional and so well mannered. I really enjoyed watching a comedy show here. The acoustics were wonderful, the seats comfortable, and the theater itself was beautiful and historic. My only complaint is parking was hidden away in the back, but once you find it and pay via QR code you're good!

The Alabama Theatre has a very rich history here in Birmingham and has been a landmark since the…read more1920's. It is a beautiful and elegant venue that has been renovated over the years but kept its identity to its original state. I've attended several events here over the years, from concerts, to movies to guest speakers. My high school graduation was held here back in 1997. There are usually snacks such as popcorn available for purchase and beverages. I don't remember other food being available. The staff is always pleasant and ready to assist. Pro Tip: The seating on the lower level is much more comfy than upstairs, especially if you are hippy or curvy or just want more room. Buy your tickets keeping this in mind.

Great venue for a show or concert. There's plenty of street parking along with paid parking nearby…read more The venue offered snacks, cocktails and drinks. I'm not sure about prices, I didn't have any. I don't think any of the seats are bad for viewing the stage.i do think that they should invest funds into renovating or replacing the seats. The seats are short, low and small. They also do not have an elevator. Be prepared to climb many stairs if you don't purchase floor seats. They seemed to have improved the sound system, which really made the musical experience better. I thoroughly enjoyed Orchestra Noir and can't wait to see them again next year. I will definitely go back.

The American Theater Guild presents Broadway in Birmingham! This is our 4th year being season…read moremembers and we are happy to see this happening in our city year after year. The inaugural season had a one page list of donors with a moderate sized font of patrons. In the current year, there are multiple pages of donors in the finest small print...just a testament to the success of the shows. If you've ever had the opportunity to see a show in NYC, you know it's an experience. The BJCC may not offer the same bright lights as Broadway and Times Square, but the shows that Broadway in Birmingham bring to the Magic City are epic! From Anastasia to Hamilton, To Kill a Mockingbird, Hadestown, and Mean Girls, Chicago, Clue etc., this is something you don't want to miss! Great music, actors, and venue! Most of the shows offer an exclusive cocktail for the performance, vendors for your merch, photo ops, and several add-on packages. Support the arts, check out the performances!

Enjoy seeing a broadway show at least every year or two depending on the offerings. I usually look…read morefor the Disney shows that everyone can enjoy. The live music, performances and accessories are amazing. Always a wonderful unique experience to share.

It was a phenomenal haunt! We did go during the Valentine's haunt so there were a lack of actors,…read morebut I'm going back in October to see how things have changed! Definitely a great haunt in the Birmingham area.

I went to a pop up at this location last night and had an amazing time. Jenee at beverage stand…read moregave me free popcorn and was so friendly. I cannot wait to come check out the haunted house during Halloween season. They also have a cool Halloween shop inside also. I love this place. I hope they bring more nightlife during the off season time. .

We decided to visit the museum to see their 'Monet to Matisse' exhibit. I checked occasionally in…read morethe week leading up to our visit. Their website displays how many tickets are remaining for the day. I wanted to ensure this wasn't selling out for our day, in which case I'd have bought tickets in advance online. However, they still showed over 1000 tickets available the day before, so I opted to just buy them at the museum. We had issues with navigation in Birmingham already, and those continued en route to the museum. For whatever reason, the app directed us over a mile beyond downtown and then had us get off the highway, cross the overpass, and double back (?). We actually switched apps a bit later as we were sure there was an issue. We eventually found the museum, though. It wasn't obvious from the front, but apparently the museum does have its own free parking lot behind the building. We ended up parking in a deck a few blocks away, but thankfully that only ended up costing us $3. The museum is normally free for entry, I believe. Donations are encouraged. However, for special travelling exhibits, there was a charge (about $25 per person). This was handled at a kiosk just outside the exhibit. We toured the exhibit and enjoyed it. Works were arranged in 3 large rooms. It was crowded, but manageable. After seeing that, we opted to check out some of the permanent collection before leaving. On the upper level (where we were) there are several rooms devoted to Asian arts (samurai armor from Japan, jade and buddha statues from China, etc.). Korea and India were also represented. If we'd had more time, we would have explored more on this floor. We descended to the first floor and checked out some of the European galleries as well as the end of the wing that is devoted to American art. They had interesting works on all these areas. If I lived in the area, I'd likely come here to check out the permanent collection. Maybe we'll be back at some point to see more of it. This was well worth stopping by if you like art. (I will limit my photos to the permanent collection.)

I finally made my way into the Birmingham Museum of Art after driving past it for years like,…read more"Yeah, I'll get to that one day..." Well, that day finally came--and turns out, I've been sleeping on a gem this whole time. First off, free admission? That'll get your attention quicker than a "buy one get one" sign. But seriously, this place is legit. It may not be on the scale of New York City or Chicago, but it absolutely punches above its weight. Birmingham quietly flexing, and I respect it. I started out in the sculpture garden, and with it being spring, the blooming dogwood trees added a layer of nostalgia that hit just right. Between the flowers, the fresh air, and the artwork, it was one of those "slow down and take it in" moments. Not bad for a place I used to ignore at red lights--or even flying past it doing 80 on 59/20. Inside, the collections are surprisingly deep and diverse. European, American, African, Asian--you name it. I spent a good bit of time in the African galleries, which meant a lot to me having traveled to Tanzania several times. It's one thing to read about cultures, but seeing the art up close brings a whole different level of appreciation. They also had a traveling exhibit featuring Claude Monet, and I'll just say--pictures don't do that justice. The way he plays with light and color is something you've got to see in person. The Renaissance pieces were another highlight, especially the Madonna and Child panels. You can actually see the craftsmanship in the materials--it makes you realize these artists weren't just talented, they were patient... like next-level patient. There's also a really cool mix of American artwork that captures early Alabama life. One painting in particular shows a whole social scene--different classes, different backgrounds--all in one place. It's like a historical snapshot, and honestly, probably more accurate than some of the stories we've all heard growing up. Now let's talk about the staff--because that matters. Every person I interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and actually knew their stuff. I asked a few questions, and instead of getting a quick "I think so," I got detailed answers that made the experience even better. That's the kind of thing you remember. Swing by the gift shop or grab a snack on the second floor--they're ready to welcome you. What I appreciated most was how the museum connects everything. You walk through different cultures, different time periods, and somehow it all ties back to the same themes--faith, identity, daily life, legacy. Makes you realize people haven't changed all that much... we've just gotten better at Wi-Fi. Walking out, I couldn't help but laugh a little--I've passed this place for years and had no idea what I was missing. Safe to say, I won't make that mistake again. In fact, this was my second visit in less than a month. If you're local or just passing through Birmingham, this place is absolutely worth your time. Take it from someone who learned the hard way--don't wait as long as I did. Well done, Birmingham!